The person charging this material is re- 
sponsible for its return to the library from 

| which it was withdrawn on of before the 
Latest Date stamped below. 


Theft, mutilation, and underlining of books 
_are reasons for disciplinary action and may 
result in dismissal from the University. 


NIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 


pa a a aoa 7 ean 


L161— O-1096 


Digitized by the Internet Archive 
in 2023 with funding from 
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 


https://archive.org/details/inhonoroftheodor00theo_0 


SHAON ONACISHUd HO LIVULYHOd AHL 


IN HONOR OF 


Theodore Williams Noyes 


Presentation of Portrait to the 
Public Library of the District of Columbia 
in Recognition of Public Service as 


President of Library Trustees 


Since 1896 


ADDRESSES AT EXERCISES 
February 16, 1922, 8 P.M. 


WASHINGTON 
Issued by the Portrait Committee 


1922 


a, 


Ma 
ain 
y 


a 


THEODORE W. NOYES PORTRAIT COMMITTEE 


THE undersigned friends of Mr. Theodore W. Noyes 

have organized themselves into a committee for the 
purpose of inviting a few other friends of Mr. Noyes to 
join in having Is portrait painted by a competent artist 
and presenting the portrait to the Public Library. 

In view of the facts that Mr. Noyes is the father of 
the Public Library movement in Washington and has been 
the president of the Library Trustees since the Library 
was founded in 1806, it seems appropriate that there 
should be a good portrait of him hung on the walls of the 
central library building. This seems a fitting way in which 
we may testify our appreciation of Mr. Noyes’ public 
service in the foundation and nurture of the Library dur- 
ing his active career. 

We invite your co-operation in the belief that you will 
consider it a privilege to be imcluded in the group who 
are to do this fine thing. 


Sincerely yours, 
Joun Joy Epson, Chairman. 


Cuno H. Rupo.pu, GILBERT GROSVENOR, 

WILLIAM T. GALLIHER, CHARLES J. BELL, 

Joun B. Larner, GrorGE F. BowERMAN, 
Treasurer. Secretary. 


(Letter—in part—issued by the Portrait Committee. ) 


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OPENING REMARKS 
Mr. JoHN Joy Epson, CHAIRMAN, PORTRAIT COMMITTEE. 
Mr. Noyes, Ladies and Gentlemen: 


Fok twenty-five years, without interruption, Mr. Theo- 
dore W. Noyes has been President of the Board of 
Trustees and the acknowledged guiding spirit of the 
Public Library of Washington. In this position and as 
one of the organizers of the Library, Mr. Noyes has con- 
stantly and consistently given his time, great influence, and 
best efforts for the success that the Library has attained. 
After such a long period of service with the Library it 
occurred to many citizens, moved as by one thought, to 
recognize in’ some suitable manner Mr. Noyes’ well and 
widely known faithful and forceful service in behalf of the 
Public Library for the City of Washington. 

A committee was formed, a program was decided on, 
and a number were invited to assist in appropriately carry- 
ing it out. Immediate responses were made, exceeding 
what was needed, and thus, at once was manifested in a 
fine spirit a keen interest in the arrangements being made 
to show the affection and esteem in which Mr. Noyes is 
held, and the sincere appreciation of his valuable service 
to the Library. 

The part that Mr. Noyes has taken in building up the 
Public Library is but one of the many big and important 
public measures which, believing them in every respect 


3 


right and desirable and for the best interests of Wash- 
ington, he has earnestly and fearlessly advocated, worked 
for, and often accomplished. 

The results of his untiring efforts are now enjoyed by 
all residents and by visitors as well at the Nation’s Capital. 

It is a real privilege and pleasure for us to meet here, 
in this classic library building, on this occasion of a testi- 
monial to Mr. Noyes. 

In good time, we must feel sure, the varied public serv- 
ices rendered by Mr. Noyes, so faithfully and effectively, 
as citizen and as editor, will be generously and gratefully 
recognized and all honor be done him by his fellow 
citizens. 


INTRODUCING COMMISSIONER RUDOLPH 


In arranging the program the committee thought it 
eminently appropriate that the head of the District Gov- 
ernment, the President of the Board of Commissioners, 
Honorable Cuno H. Rudolph, should make the presenta- 
tion of the portrait of Mr. Noyes to the Public Library. 
Upon the invitation extended to him, he signified his 
pleasure by promptly accepting. Mr. Rudolph has the 
unique honor of having been appointed by the President 
of the United States for a second term after a lapse of 
some years since his former service as Commissioner. 
He filled the position admirably before and is rendering 
splendid service at this time to the District. Without re- 
gard to party affiliation, the residents of the city of Wash- 
ington were greatly pleased when the President again ap- 
pointed Mr. Rudolph, a well equipped, successful business 
man. 


Mr. Rudolph. 


ADDRESS PRESENTING THE PORTRAIT 
HonorABLE Cuno H. RuDOLPH, PRESIDENT, 
COMMISSIONERS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 
Mr. Chairman, Mr. Noyes, Ladies and Gentlemen: 


E HAVE met tonight to do honor to the man who, 
more than anyone else, called the Public Library of the 
District of Columbia into being. More than that, he has 
made the Public Library one of the major interests of his 
life, has watched and tended it, protected it, secured sus- 
tenance for it and promoted its growth from nothing to 
its present development. Some people think that this l- 
brary was founded by Andrew Carnegie; they even call it 
the “Carnegie Library,” always incorrectly however. Large 
as were and are Mr. Carnegie’s contributions—this build- 
ing, the branch building at Takoma, the new building about 
to be erected, and the five others that we hope and expect 
the Carnegie Corporation will give to carry out Mr. 
Carnegie’s intent—they are gifts of marble, stone and 
brick houses in which the Library lives and not the 
Library itself. 

That we now have this living organization for educa- 
tional service we owe to Mr. Theodore W. Noyes. He 
early saw the need for it; he agitated the question for 
long years, stirred up interest through the Star and 
through the Washington Board of Trade, first in the local 
community and finally in Congress. After many years of 
struggle against indifference, against opposition that said 
no other library was. needed, against measures that would 
put the entire expense of the Library on the District, at last 


a 


the act creating a municipal, tax supported, free public 
library was passed and became law on June 3, 1896. 

How well the associates of Mr. Noyes in the first board 
of library trustees understood his part in the creation of 
the Library is shown by the resolution adopted by the 
library board at its initial meeting on July 2, 1896, after 
having chosen Mr. Noyes president of the board. On 
motion of Gardner G. Hubbard the library board adopted 
this expression of its appreciation of the services of Mr. 
Noyes: 


“Whereas the Municipal Library of Washington 
owes the act of incorporation, which is its life, to 
the unwearied efforts, great tact, and good judg- 
of Mr. Theodore W. Noyes, 

Therefore, Be it Resolved, that we enter on the 
first page of our records and before all other acts 
this acknowledgment of our obligation to Mr. 
Noyes.” 


Tonight we are assembled to recognize our greater ob- 
ligation accumulated in the last 26 years, during all of 
which time the successive boards of library trustees have 
continued to elect Mr. Noyes president and he has con- 
tinued to serve with a devotion seldom, if ever, equaled. 

But the act permitting the Library to exist did not give 
it bodily shape or set it going on its work of service. 
The library act might have been passed earlier had Mr. 
Noyes and his associates been willing to accept it on the 
basis of meeting the entire expense from District’ of 
Columbia taxes. With wise foresight he decided that 
Washington not only needed and could have a public 
library, but that it could and should be founded and main- 
tained squarely on the basis of full municipal support. 


6 


The battle was fought more than once in Congress before 
the bill was tardily enacted. Once after the law was 
passed an appropriation was offered on the whole cost basis 
and refused, so that not till two years after the creative 
law was passed was the Library set going. 

At first it was a modest affair in rented quarters. Next 
it moved to this central building, once considered commo- 
dious but now outgrown by book collections and working 
force and overcrowded by the throngs of people who fre- 
quent it. It is plain to see that the Library has, under 
the fostering care of Mr. Noyes and his associates, vastly 
increased its service to the public; but it is also only too 
evident that it has reached a point where that service must 
be greatly strengthened and extended. Such expansion 
and extension are not only in harmony with Mr. Noyes’ 
vision of the Library but are what the present situation 
demands. 

But our interest in the Library, which is likewise Mr. 
Noyes’ own great interest, must not absorb us to the 
exclusion of the business of this occasion, which is the 
presentation to the Public Library of this portrait of 
Mr. Noyes. A few of his friends organized themselves 
into a committee and invited a few other friends to join 
them in this enterprise. The mere suggestion was so 
spontaneously taken up that the fund was soon completed. 
A talented artist was secured in the person of Mr. Richard 
S. Meryman, and here we have the portrait. On behalf 
of the committee and donors I take great pleasure in pre- 
senting it to the library trustees. 


Commissioner Rudolph also read in part the following 
letter from Mr. C. Powell Minnigerode, Director of the 
Corcoran Gallery of Art: 


THE CORCORAN GALLERY OF ART 
WASHINGTON, D. C. 


14 February 1922. 


Dr. George F. Bowerman, Librarian, 
The Public Library, 
Washington, D. C. 


Dear Dr. Bowerman: 


As I expect to leave Washington early tomorrow morn- 
ing for New York, to be absent until the end of the week, 
it will not be possible for me to attend the presentation 
exercises in connection with the portrait of Mr. Theodore 
W. Noyes, painted by Mr. Richard S. Meryman. Tnais, 
I assure you, is a matter of very genume regret to me, 
for I felt a deep personal interest in the matter, and ii 
would have been an especial pleasure and privilege to me 
to have been present on this occasion. 

As you know, I recommended Mr. Meryman for this 
commission, and, therefore, felt in a large measure respon- 
sible for the portrait. For this reason, it is a source of 
deep satisfaction and gratification to me that the portrait 
has turned out so successfully. I have heard from mem- 
bers of Mr. Noyes’ family, and from many of his friends, 
the highest praise and commendation of the portrait; and 
I am pleased to say that I have yet to hear the first word 
of unfavorable criticism. 

I have just been to examine the portrait in its Anshan 
condition—in its new frame and under glass—and I was 
greatly wmpressed by it. Aside from being a thoroughly 
satisfactory likeness, it is, in my opinion, an unusually fine 
piece of technical painting, and possesses great artistic 
charm and merit. 


It seems to me that your wants and requirements could 
hardly have been filled in a more complete and satisfactory 
manner. I believe that, for all time to come, you have 
a portrait which will worthily represent the man who, for 
more than a quarter of a century, has rendered such valu- 
able and unselfish service to your institution; and, at the 
same time, you have a work of art which will stand the 
test of years, which will be a credit to your Library, and 
in which you may justly take pride. 

With my warmest congratulations to you and to your 
associates upon having secured such a succesful portrait 
of such a splendid man, I am 


Sincerely yours 


/s/ C. POWELL MINNIGERODE, 
Director. 


CHAIRMAN EDSON, INTRODUCING 
VICE-PRESIDENT STAFFORD 


R. JUSTICE WENDELL PHILLIPS STAFFORD, 

as vice-president of the Board of Trustees of the 
Washington Public Library, will receive the oil portrait 
of Mr. Noyes, its president, that has just been presented, on 
behalf of a special committee, by Commissioner Rudolph. 
Justice Stafford, having received appointment by the Pres- 
ident of the United States to the Supreme Court of the 
District of Columbia, came to Washington as a stranger, 
about eighteen years ago, and thus became a permanent 
resident at the Nation’s Capital. It was not long before most 
of us were well acquainted with Justice Stafford and he has 
proved a wonderful addition to our community. He has 
always taken a real interest in our affairs and through the 
many addresses that he has been called upon to make we 


o 


have been highly entertained and instructed. We have 
learned to love him and we are extremely gratified that he 
is the one to speak tonight for the Library.. 

While he is a permanent resident here, he is still a ieee 
citizen of Vermont. If it were not for our being deprived 
in the capital city of the privilege of voting we should have 
him, we feel confident, both as a resident and citizen, a 
state of affairs which we hope may soon come about. It 
is not necessary for me to say how strongly he stands in 
favor of Washington’s being granted the right to vote for 
representation in both Houses of Congress and for President 
and Vice-President of the United States. Some twelve 
years ago Judge Stafford made a memorable speech on this 
subject, entirely devoted to the proposition of which I have 
just spoken, which then had many dissenters, but now has 
few. He has the satisfaction of knowing that he was right 
then and that he is right now. In speaking of this matter 
of Federal representation at this time, my only excuse is 
the great interest that it has developed in favor of the neces- 
sary Constitutional amendment and the part that Justice 
Stafford has had in endorsing the proposition. I am sure 
that we shall all be pleased to hear from Justice Stafford. 


ADDRESS ACCEPTING THE PORTRAIT 
HONORABLE WENDELL PHILLIPS STAFFORD, 


Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the District of Columbia. 
Vice-President, Board of Library Trustees. 


Mr. Chairman, Friends: 


HOPE you noticed exactly the way Mr. Edson put 
that. Having found out the length of time I passed 
here, he said, ‘“We have learned to love him.” It is an ac- 
quired taste! The President of the Board of Trustees 
being so pleasantly disqualified from accepting this fine 
portrait, it devolves upon me as Vice-President to accept it. 
Without any further formal statement I wish to say to 
you as friends and to Commissioner Rudolph, who has 
presented it, that the Board does accept it with very great 
happiness, pride and satisfaction. We are glad to know 
that the people of the coming generation will be able to look 
upon this pleasant portrait of the man to whom we owe so 
much. We are also not a little pleased that they may take 
this as a sample of the appearance of the gentlemen of our 
generation. I myself take it as a personal compliment when- 
ever anyone admires this picture, for more than once I have 
been taken for Mr. Noyes. 

I do not know exactly how much incense he will bear to 
have burned on his mustache; and it is a little difficult to 
say of him exactly what I should like to say. If he would 
be kind enough to step out of the room I should be less em- 
barrassed, but this seems to be his party and I can’t quite 
ask him to do that. I have thought of it a good deal, and 
it seems to me that the most delicate way to express our 


11 


feelings on this occasion would be to tell him and you of a 
dream I had not long ago. 

It seemed to me that I was standing in this library be- 
fore this pleasing and lifelike portrait, which was hanging in 
its permanent place upon the wall. People were coming 
and going by. They were not dressed exactly like the 
people I had been familiar with. I could not hear all they 
said; but I caught the major part of their conversation; 
and I noticed that as they passed the picture they smiled 
and dropped some pleasant remark one to the other. But 
the remarkable thing about my dream was that nobody paid 
any attention to me. They did not even look my way and 
if they did they seemed to be looking at something on the 
other side of me as if I were not there at all. I was struck 
when a fine looking lady came along with a bright-eyed boy 
and as pretty a flapper as I had seen ina long time. They 
stopped before the portrait and the girl said; “O Mother, 
who is this? It looks like Dad.’’ ‘‘Why,” she said, “That 
is Mr. Noyes. Have you never seen that portrait? He is 
the founder of the Library.” Then I heard the boy speak 
up. “I thought Carnegie founded this library, I am sure 
I have heard it called the Carnegie Library.” Then the 
mother said “Yes, that is an old mistake. Bad habits are 
hard to correct and there was a little excuse for it at one 
time. Mr. Carnegie gave the building itself; but we should 
not have had anything else. We should not have had 
these books; we should not have had this efficient service. 
In fact, we should not have had the building itself, if it had 
not been for Mr. Noyes, for it had to be matched by an 
appropriation from Congress. It was Mr. Noyes,” she ex- 
plained to him, “who agitated the matter in the first place, 
before anyone else had an idea that Washington ought to 
have a free public library, in view of the fact that the 


12 


Library of Congress and the departmental libraries are lo- 
cated here. He woke them to the fact that they needed a 
good circulating library as well as a reference library in the 
city of Washington. He kept at it in the Star until the peo- 
ple were aroused. The Star was then as it is now,” she said, 
“the representative of the real and vital interests of the 
District of Columbia, a paper that never was bought or 
sold, a paper in which for $100,000 you could not buy an 
inch of space for any cause unworthy. Why,” she said, 
“you would find it hard to realize all that man did in the 
founding and maintaining of this library.” “But,” said the 
boy, “was he richer than Carnegie?’ “No,” she said, “I 
am afraid he was not, though I think he never lacked for 
the necessities of life, but this was something that money 
could not buy. This library is the child of his heart and 
his brain. And then long years after the Library was built 
he had to go time and time again to get for it the needed 
funds. He had to meet with all sorts of rebuffs. He could 
have got the charter if he had been willing to let the people 
bear the burden alone, but he saw the justice of having here a 
public library upon the same basis as that which obtained 
in other cities and he insisted upon that.” 

Then I heard the boy say, ‘“Why did he have to do it? 
What were the Senators and Representatives in Congress 
doing? Did they take no interest in this matter?’ Then I 
heard her say, “O, my son, that was in those dark days be- 
fore we had suffrage in the District of Columbia. It is 
hard for you to understand today, you who have seen with 
what attention Congress listens to the speeches of our Repre- 
sentatives, and how gladly they accede to their demands. It is 
impossible for you to understand how this man was treated 
when he appeared before committees of Congress.” ‘Well,’ 
said the girl, “I am glad J didn’t live in those days—es- 


13 


pecially if it was before we women could vote.” ’Yes, 
most of it was before we women could vote, and it was the 
votes of women which led to the change of that condition 
in Washington.” 

‘“Humph,” said the boy, “it was certainly a very un- 
pleasant state of affairs, and I only wish that I could have 
told those people what I thought of them for keeping so 
many American citizens in a condition of serfdom.” 

I tried hard to speak, I tried to cry out and say, ‘There 
were a few of us who did tell them.” I tried so hard to 
speak that something snapped and I woke up. 


I wanted to tell them something more, for with all the 
kind things that they had said about Mr. Noyes they had 
not half told the story. I wanted to tell them that they 
could not understand the man without knowing also that 
besides being a patriot and a citizen of the United States, 
who loved his country, and loved its Capital as representing 
that country, here was a man who was born in Washington, 
and who loved Washington as a native son always loves the 
place where he was born. Then I wanted to declare that 
they could not understand this man without understanding 
his father; that here was a worthy son of a worthy father. 
There was a quotation that I wanted to speak in their ears 
before they departed. If I could make you understand 
exactly what I mean by one or two expressions in it, I 
should have no fear in making the quotation—I believe you 
will understand. JI never knew a man who seemed so utterly 
devoid of any personal interest so far as public questions 
are concerned. Here is a man who never expected to hold 
office, who never desired to hold any political office, who has 
lived in a city where he could not hold any high civic office 
such as the people of other cities strive for, and who has 
devoted his whole life to the service of the community. He 


14 


has never, I believe, been actuated by a personal motive tn 
his public conduct. 
The quotation I wished to make is this: 


“This was the noblest Roman of them all 
All the conspirators, save only he, 

Did what they did in envy of great Caesar. 
He, only, in a general honest thought 

And common good to all made one of them. 
His life was gentle. The elements 

So mixed in him that nature might stand up 
And say to all the world; This was a man.” 


CHAIRMAN EDSON, INTRODUCING 
LIBRARIAN BOWERMAN 


The Committee has considered that it would be in- 
teresting if, at these ceremonies, the librarian, Dr. George 
F. Bowerman, should tell us of the work and the progress 
of the Library during his administration. I am sure he can 
give us information and data that will indicate the increase 
in the activities of the Library and the wide field that it 
now covers. 

I am glad to present Dr. Bowerman, who has been our 
librarian since 1904 and, as we all know, has devoted him- 
self with such fidelity and efficiency and with such a fine 
spirit and ambition to the discharge of his duties, in the 
conduct of the affairs of the Library that this institution 
has come to occupy a very important and influential place 
in the educational and civic life of the District of Columbia. 


15 


THE PUBLIC EIBRARY A’ CONTINUAHIGN 
SCHOOL 


Appress BY Dr. GEoRGE F. BOWERMAN, 
LIBRARIAN, PuBLic LIBRARY 


Mr. Chairman, President Noyes, Ladies and Gentlemen: 


HE Chairman has suggested that it would not be in- 
Lees for me to say something about the work 
of the Public Library, the institution called into being 
through the efforts of Mr. Noyes and fostered by him 
during the past 26 years. Every man who loves his work 
likes to talk about it. I am therefore glad to accept this 
invitation. I shall try not to abuse your patience. 

First, however, I wish to say something about the por- 
trait. Those of you who have had experience with such 
matters know that there are perils connected with having 
official portraits painted. This time, however, I think you 
will agree that we have been altogether successful. We 
were fortunate in securing Mr. Richard S. Meryman, an 
artist who had painted several other very excellent por- 
traits of Washingtonians. This time he has outdone him- 
self and has produced not only a fine likeness of Mr. 
Noyes, but a great painting as well. That this is so we 
who behold it know; but our judgment is reinforced by 
the opinions of art critics here and elsewhere. When the 
picture was shown in its incomplete form at the Corcoran 
Gallery the celebrated art critic of the New York Tribune, 
Mr. Royal Cortissoz, whose judgment in such matters is 
generally regarded as most weighty, wrote of it: 


16 


There is a fine portrait of Theodore Noyes. The 
seated figure is admirably constructed, the head is 
modeled in a clean, workmanlike manner, and in 
addition, the quiet tones are enlivened by judicious 
play of light and with a discreet use of unobtrusive 
accessories; the artist has produced a portrait that 
is a design. 


This opinion of Mr. Cortissoz is backed up by two very 
urgent letters from the Director of the Albright Memorial 
Gallery, who is very desirous of including this portrait in 
the spring exhibit at Buffalo, which is to include only 100 
especially invited pictures by American artists. 

Speaking for my staff and myself who will live with 
this portrait, I can say that we are delighted at the pros- 
pect. The picture is shown in this room only for this 
occasion. It will be hung in the most conspicuous place 
in the main delivery room, where all who enter this build- 
ing will be sure to see it. J am sure that for the double 
1eason of the interest and distinction of the picture both 
as a portrait and as a work of art, and because of what 
Mr. Noyes means to this library and to Washington, the 
library staff and public will have satisfaction in their com- 
panionship with this portrait. 


TRIBUTE TO MR. NOYES 


I also desire to pay my official and personal tribute to 
Mr. Noyes for what he has meant and means to this 
library and to me. No one knows better than I the de- 
voted interest and laborious effort that he has put forth 
on behalf of this library during the seventeen years and 
more that I have been your librarian. In all of the ex- 
ternal relations of the Library—with the Commissioners, 


1A 


with Congress, and the public—he has been my constant 
adviser and aid, in all things unfailingly sympathetic, re- 
sourceful and helpful. I have all along known something 
of his work for the Library in the period before I came 
here; but not until the last few days, during which, in 
preparation for this occasion, I have been searching scrap- 
books, Evening Star files, and other records, have I come 
fully to understand the immense amount of thought, time 
and energy that he put into the work of creating the 
Library and setting it on its feet. The record* as I found 
it is truly an amazing one, compounded of numerous edi- 
torials in the Star, well-reasoned committee reports, hear- 
ings before Congressional committees, legislative debates 
the results of which stuck and hung, and so long got 
nowhere, but at length, after weary efforts, set-backs and 
discouragements, accomplished the purpose of this persis- 
tent, indefatigable, unwearying friend of the Library. 
With him all of these efforts were labors of love, all were 
expressions of his unfaltering, clear visioned desire to help 
forward the intellectual progress of this community 
through the means of a public library. It is idle to specu- 
late whether even now we should have the Library without 
his efforts. We have had it now for 25 years and we 
owe it to Mr. Noyes more than to all other men combined. 


CONCEPTION OF PUBLIC LIBRARY 


In accepting the invitation to speak of the Public Li- 
brary and its work, I think I cannot do better than to 
dwell for a few minutes on one feature of the law creat- 
ing the Library which shows Mr. Noyes’ broadminded and 
progressive spirit in his conception of the public library 


*See Chronology, pages 37-57. 


18 


as an institution of society. The creative act declares 
the Public Library to be ‘“‘a supplement of the public edu- 
cational system of the District.” In this conception Mr. 
Noyes in framing the bill took advanced ground. With- 
out in any way reflecting upon charitable or recreational 
work, I have always been glad that I am here called to 
administer an institution which in its fundamental law is 
declared to be an educational institution. Please note that 
the law does not say ‘‘a supplement of the public school 
system,” but that it does say “a supplement of the 
public educational system’’—a very much larger conception. 
In trying to realize this conception, the public library 
.does supplement and reinforce the education given in the 
schools, but also it interprets its purpose to be the com- 
plementing of the education of the schools by offering 
facilities for carrying that education on to the very end 
of life. By implication at least in this law education is 
considered not as a process that is completed at some given 
time when the period of school instruction is over, but as 
a process that continues as long as man remains a sentient 
being, with the public library supplying, in organized form, 
the educated, skilled service and the literary materials that 
will enable the units of society to continue their education 
indefinitely. 


ESSENTIAL IN A DEMOCRACY 


With democratic government now all but universal, with 
life daily becoming more complex, never before in the 
world’s history has it ‘been so essential for the entire 
population to be educated. The District of Columbia, now 
at length we hope, stands at the threshold of gaining some 
participation in its own political life. This library has, 
I believe, had some part in furnishing the education which 


1 


all voters should have to make them fit for exercising 
the franchise. But the public library’s idea of education 
is not confined to intelligent participation in political life, 
but includes the soundest and completest intellectual equip- 
ment for all men, women and children in the community 
in all possible branches of knowledge of which they are 
capable—practical, scientific, historical, philosophical, spirit- 
ual, artistic and literary—to the end that we may have the 
most completely enlightened and best equipped citizenship. 
I believe the public library has in it the possibilities for 
accomplishing such a purpose, provided only it is given 
the means so to develop that it can do its full work. 
Much as this library has grown from its small begin- 
nings, it has thus far only barely begun to realize the place 
it mighty occupy as an educational agent. To begin with 
it has only the central library and one branch library, so 
that for large numbers of the population it has no effec- 
tive existence, since they live too far away to be able to 
use its resources or, if they venture to come to the central 
library, they find the service choked and congested by the 
throngs who now come. They get the best service that 
an insufficient staff and such congestion will permit, but 
such service 1s, because of this congestion, necessarily too 
much on the basis of trying to dispatch each case as 
quickly as possible with business efficiency. It is there- 
fore too much on a physical plane, rather than a service 
that is able to give intelligent, expert, patient attention to 
the needs of each case in the leisurely fashion that accom- 
plishes the best results in an institution that is educational 
and spiritual in character. In other words, the Library 
needs to be relieved from the present restrictions that con- 
fine its service to the work that can be done from an over- 
crowded central library and one branch and be permitted 


20 


to establish and conduct the necessary branch libraries 
and do in and through them the whole work that its con- 
stitution fits it to do. 


THE LIBRARY'S ACTIVITIES 


I think I can best illustrate how the Public Library func- 
tions in the educational process, how it supplements the 
educational work of the school-teaching system, by briefly 
describing a few of the Library’s activities. We have met 
in the Central Library children’s room. Even though the 
Central Library is located in the midst of dangerous and con- 
gested traffic conditions, this room is every afternoon brim- 
ming full of children, some of whom come long distances. 
Many of them ought to be served in similar children’s rooms 
in quieter and less dangerous neighborhoods, near their 
homes. Through a children’s department, which we hope 
will ultimately have a center reasonably near every home 
in the District, we strive to catch them young, in the hope 
of tying them to the Library and thus making them life 
long readers and library users. This we do by furnishing 
them with interesting books, carefully chosen by experts 
trained in children’s literature, by stories so told as to in- 
terest them in the children’s classics, and by mounted pic- 
tures of art subjects, scenery and industrial processes. By 
these means we are often able to quicken the interest of 
lethargic minds, more wholesomely, than is done through 
the movies, and greatly aid the instructional process. 

At our Takoma Park branch just now the branch librarian 
and the children’s librarian are giving a series of talks to 
the children of the Takoma school explaining the use of the 
Library and of books. Every year before Christmas the 
Central Library has an exhibit of fine editions of children’s 
books, by which we are able to help a large number of 


21 


parents in the wise selection of gifts and thus reduce some- 
what the number of foolish, weak books that indulgent, but 
misguided parents and especially uncles and aunts give to 
young folks. Indeed, this advisory work with parents and 
children goes on all the year round. The Library has a 
special collection of about 20,000 volumes forming a school 
collection. These books are carefully selected and graded to 
help in school work. The Library has more than 350 laun- 
dry baskets and has one delivery automobile that does noth- 
ing else but supply books to the graded schools. The 
teachers testify that they find this service indispensable. 
These books are used in classes and were circulated to the 
extent of more than 200,000 volumes last year. The work 
of the children’s department is of course unique in Wash- 
ington, since no other library in the District even remotely 
attempts to cover this important field. 


COURSES ON EVERY SUBJECT 


Turning now from the Library’s work for children to 
what it does for adults, the Public Library may properly 
be considered as a universal continuation school, with 
courses on every subject of human interest. It has ad- 
vanced, intermediate and elementary books, magazines and 
pamphlets on all fields of knowledge, suited to the scholar, 
the ordinary reader of moderate education, and to the be- 
ginner, including the foreigner. In addition to its collec- 
tion of printed matter, it has, or at least it should always 
have, what is perhaps even more important, educated and 
trained experts to guide and facilitate the user through the 
flood and maze of modern print. 

One of the most important of the continuation schools 
conducted by the Public Library is its industrial division, 
which combines in itself a school of technology, a trade 


22 


school, a school of advertising, a school of home eco- 
nomics and decoration, and schools of many other sub- 
jects. Among the bread and butter books in this school 
of preparation for livelihood will be found engineering 
books, used by the District and other government engi- 
neers; books on farming and poultry raising, used by the 
suburban dweller; books on personal and business man- 
agement, cost keeping and accounts, used by the merchant; 
books on store and window dressing and selling methods, 
used by the salesman; books on plumbing, used by the 
journeyman; books on automobile repairing, used by the 
car owner; and books on cooking and domestic budgets, 
used by the housewife. This department is one of the 
busiest and most used in the Library and directly con- 
tributes to the economic welfare of the community. 


In this department, as in the general reference depart- 
ment, the aim is to furnish the most expert information 
service possible on every subject of human interest. In 
both, use is made not only of books and magazines, but 
also of pamphlets, clippings, maps, pictures, and informa- 
tion secured by the telephone from outside the library 
walls. This general reference division furnishes informa- 
tional knowledge, wanted for its own sake. Use of its 
resources contributes to the most enlightened citizenship. 


WASHINGTON’S BOOK APPETITE 


But a library like this does not confine its service to 
what is known as reference work—reading and study done 
on the spot. Indeed, perhaps its most valuable service is 
that rendered by library books outside the Library. Even 
under its present restrictions it lends a million books a 
year for home reading to more than 60,000 registered 


oh 


readers. Those figures could easily be increased to 3,000,- 
000 and probably 5,000,000 volumes, if the Library could 
be permitted so to expand as fully to meet the legitimate 
demands of what I believe to be the city with the biggest 
book appetite in America. 


Pause and consider Washington’s population. Here is 
a body of people, a large portion of them picked by civil 
service examinations from all parts of the United States. 
For the most part they are not engaged in heavy, exhaust- 
ing manual labor, but in clerical and other intellectual tasks 
for seven hours a day. Furthermore, they are for the 
most part in receipt of very meager salaries, and therefore 
without much temptation to riotous living. With nothing 
to do but improve their minds they crowd into the Library 
in great numbers, predominantly demanding the best books, 
including many costly ones, and the most skilled service. 
It is a joy and an inspiration to serve such a constituency, 
but it does require a vastly larger number of expensive 
books and very much larger number of educated and 
trained assistants than ever have been furnished; properly 
and conveniently to render the service asked also requires 
a very much larger number of distribution points than 
ever have been supplied. 


EXPANSION JUST AHEAD 


Do not from what I have said get the idea that the 
Library is standing still. Expansion is just ahead. We 
are about to erect with Carnegie money a new branch 
library building in Southeast Washington on a fine site 
supplied by Congressional appropriation. Further, and of 
added significance because it marks in practical form the 
recognition by the School Board and Superintendent of 


24 


Schools of the Public Library as a supplement of their 
part of the local educational system, a plan has just been 
agreed upon whereby, when Congress supplies the funds 
therefor, branches of the Public Library are to be estab- 
lished in certain regional and suburban schools, that will 
supply library service to residents of the more thinly 
populated parts of the District, supplementing the work 
of separate branches to be established in the more densely 
populated areas. 


During the first few years after I came to Washington 
17 years ago I definitely sought more readers, who very 
promptly came to my call in ever-increasing numbers. 
During the last few years the demands have been so much 
greater than could be met with the means afforded, that, 
unnatural as it is in any librarian to assume such an atti- 
tude, in my extremity I have almost got to the point of 
trying to keep people away. Indeed we do (would you 
believe it of the Public Library of the National Capital?) 
close this building every Wednesday at 3 P.M.—and 
blush with shame at being compelled to do so. If we could 
ever catch up with ourselves, if we could ever go forward 
and do this library job right for the entire population 
of Washington, how fine it would be again to go after 
more readers—the reluctant ones or those now too timid 
to come. What joy to try to create a desire for reading! 
What joy in making such persons partakers of the intel- 
lectual treasures of the ages! 


DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE 


Given branch libraries sufficient to furnish library re- 
sources within easy reach of every home in the District, 
how I should like to carry out a long treasured plan that 


2 


would enable us really to live up to the motto on the front 
of this building, “A university for the people.” This 
could be done by supplying more skilled service, including 
a group of experts, masters, guides and interpreters, of 
the various subjects of human knowledge. How I should 
like to see given in every branch library courses of 
stereopticon lectures on the use of the Library to the entire 
school population. How I should like to carry out a 
cherished plan of having a study club director and a corps 
of assistants to organize and direct readers so that the 
present unorganized and often desultory reading of many 
persons could be made better worth while. Many of them 
would, I know, welcome such help. Similarly, how I 
should like to have a club worker and story teller or a 
group of such workers the better to foster and direct the 
reading of children. Since I cannot now have these 
things, with Robert Browning I can but say: 


* * * “A man’s reach should exceed his grasp, 
Or what’s a heaven for?” 


TRIBUTE TO STAFF 


I should not close my remarks without saying a word 
about my loyal and efficient staff. Washington people, if 
they do not know it already, should understand that in 
this library staff they have a splendid body of devoted, 
self-sacrificing workers. If all should leave the library 
service tonight who are receiving less compensation than 
they earn, it would be impossible to open the doors to- 
morrow. They come to us and stay because they love this 
work, the opportunity for self-expression and for helpful- 
ness. In the past the losses of these trained people who 
could not afford to reject better pay elsewhere have been 


26 


excessive—in one year a turnover of 98%—but the ma- 
jority stay at heavy personal sacrifices. The Washington 
public has been vocal in its demands for better salaries 
for school teachers. Here is a group in every way com- 
parable in education, training, character and in service with 
the school teachers. They are fewer; they do not come 
in as close contact with parents as teachers and conse- 
quently their necessities are lost sight of. Your help in 
securing better recognition for them is no less needed. 

If anyone is inclined to think that in what I have been 
saying I have been getting a long way from Mr. Noyes, 
in whose honor we are meeting tonight, I would point 
out that all that I have said has in other words formed 
part of my reports and has been the subject of scores of 
earnest conferences with Mr. Noyes. In all these aspira- 
tions for the Library’s development he fully sympathizes 
with me. In giving expression to them on this occasion 
I am but voicing his hopes and dreams for the Library. 
To dwell upon them is therefore my part in this tribute to 
Mr. Noyes as Public Library founder, nourisher, pro- 
moter and expander. Will you not join with him and his 
associates on the library board and with me, your libra- 
rian, in helping to make these dreams come true? 


CHAIRMAN EDSON, INTRODUCING MR. NOYES 


Ania what has been said on this happy occasion, I 
am sure it is the wish of all that we hear from 
Mr. Noyes. Our friendship for, and keen appreciation 
of, Mr. Noyes, the man and the citizen, cause us to listen 
to him with pleasure and interest in whatever he may have 
to say. 

A long time ago, and for many years, it was my good 
fortune and privilege to know his father, Mr. Crosby S. 
Noyes. Many times I conferred with him upon public 
matters appertaining to the District of Columbia especially, 
and sometimes on other matters in which one or both 
were interested. [I esteemed and regarded him as a wise 
counselor of the highest order. 

On one occasion on a trip we took to the South, we had 
an interesting talk in regard to his first coming from his 
native State of Maine to Washington to live, and his first 
becoming part owner and the controlling factor of The 
Evening Star. At that time Mr. Noyes, senior, was desig- 
nated as its editor. He stated that from the beginning, 
in his management of The Evening Star, he had put it on 
a firm and true newspaper foundation, and that on this 
foundation, it had been conducted thereafter throughout its 
whole career. In return for subscriptions and for adver- 
tising support, he said, the earliest and best possible news 
obtainable, accurate and reliable, would be published and 
a good family paper would be produced, advocating every 
measure that was practical, desirable and proper for Wash- 
ington, the Nation’s Capital; but not a word or a line in 
news and editorial columns could be paid for in The 
Evening Star, for, with rare exceptions, such a policy 


28 


would deceive the public and therefore would not be right. 

Mr. Crosby S. Noyes, in the conduct of the paper, 
always had the hearty support of his associates. Mr. 
Theodore W. Noyes succeeded his father as editor, and 
followed his example. He has constantly taken an active 
interest in everything pertaining to civic and social welfare 
of the District of Columbia and his country. He has been 
willing always to be approached by any citizen upon any 
proposed measure; and when convinced that it was right, 
has given his time, effort and liberal space in the Star for 
its support. 

Many could tell you of their experiences with Mr. 
Noyes, always attentive, interested and courteous. I speak 
from my own experience, reflecting back over many years. 
I would not say that he has always been in full accord 
with those who have sought his aid on public matters, but 
I know that whenever he has believed in a question of 
importance, he has given it his unstinted and generous 
support. 

The influence of a good family paper, with a large cir- 
culation, such as the Star, cannot be over-estimated. Its 
influence is tremendous. You and I can talk with one or 
two or three people during the day, upon subjects pertain- 
ing to the public, but a newspaper can speak to several 
hundred thousand every day, and influence the minds of 
its readers and their decisions. What a mighty power 
to be exercised for good and what a responsibility for the 
editor and management! 

So here, on this occasion, all too inadequate but full of 
meaning as it is, we are expressing Our warmest regard 
and esteem for Mr. Noyes for his services rendered to 
the Public Library, and it is now with pleasure that we 
ask him to address us. 


rae, 


ADDRESS ACKNOWLEDGING HONOR 


HONORABLE THEODORE WILLIAMS NOYES 
PRESIDENT, BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES 


With all my heart, my friends, I thank you for this full 
measure of honor,—heaped up, pressed down, and running 
over. 


| AM honored by the presence here tonight of many of 
those who as a token of friendly regard have combined 
to make this portrait presentation. J am honored by the 
hearty and delightfully over-appreciative words of praise 
spoken by friends, who, through Commissioner Rudolph, 
voice the approval of high municipal official authority; 
through Mr. Edson the approval of the finest type of civic 
loyalty and civic leadership; through Justice Stafford, the 
approval of valued judicial opinion expressed with the 
poetic eloquence of our city’s master of words; and 
through Librarian Bowerman the approval of highly ex- 
pert opinion concerning good work in library upbuilding. 
I am honored in the assurance that my pictured self—pic- 
tured with artistic skill—is from the Library’s walls to 
keep my memory alive in book-using Washington long 
after I have passed away. I am honored by this conspicu- 
ous and permanent identification with our tax-sustained 
Public Library, our increasingly useful and valuable supple- 
ment of the public schools, our free university of the peo- 
ple, in whose founding and upbuilding I am proud to have 
played a part. 

When a citizen is commended for public service all good 
citizens are in effect commended with him, and especially 
those who have labored effectively on similar lines of com- 


30 


MR. NOYES AND THE OTHER SPEAKERS 


munity usefulness. So tonight in commending me _ for 
services rendered the community through the Library, you 
have indirectly and in effect commended all my fellow- 
laborers, who have contributed in money, books, time, 
thought or vitality to the Library’s existence and growth. 

Memory recalls vividly and pleasantly far more of these 
library co-workers than there is time even to mention. 
There was Weston Flint, a pioneer library advocate and 
our first librarian. The original book contributors will 
always be remembered, including C. S. Noyes, S. W. 
Woodward, C. C. Glover and John R. McLean with their — 
substantial money subscriptions, James T. DuBois, donor 
of the “Henry Pastor Memorial Fund” for the purchase 
of periodicals, the estate of Anthony Pollock which gave 
us 1,500 volumes, and the incorporated Washington City 
Free Library, which transferring all its books, was by 
far the largest single original book contributor. | Many 
influential and faithful legislators for the District, headed 
by Representative Hemphill and Senator McMillan as pio- 
neers, have befriended the Library and have participated 
notably in creating and sustaining it. We shall always 
remember B. H. Warner, enthusiastic, helpful pioneer 
library advocate, our first vice-president of library trustees, 
who secured from Andrew Carnegie the promise of a new 
building ; and, of course, Andrew Carnegie himself, donor 
of the library building and Takoma Branch, to whose 
wise beneficence the community is indebted for this con- 
spicuously useful and strikingly beautiful and artistic 
product of the architect’s skill, which finds effective en- 
vironment in its setting of green in Mount Vernon Square. 

We owe a debt also to our librarians of Congress, to 
former Library Trustee Spofford, an active and effective 
participant in the Library’s creation and early development; 


31 


and to former Library Trustee Herbert Putnam, notably 
helpful in securing legislation which made the unused treasure 
of duplicate books accumulated in the Library of Congress 
to some extent available for use by the Public Library. 


The District Commissioners, past and present, have ever 
been sympathetic and helpful. 


The labor of love of the library trustees of today and 
of the yesterdays are not to be forgotten. Pioneer Trus- 
tee John B. Larner and near-pioneer Trustee Charles J. 
Bell have served faithfully from the Library’s beginning, 
and are among the most energetic members of the strong 
board of today. 


Tribute is due to the faithful and efficient library force, 
past and present, including those self-sacrificing ones who 
stood loyally at their posts when tempted to more lucra- 
tive employment in the great war, headed by Librarian 
Bowerman, whose great ability, progressive policies, and 
untiring and resistless energy have in his nearly eighteen 
years of efficient service driven the Library along the path 
of progress, steadily and at times rapidly, toward the goal 
of the ideal. 


Thirty years ago the great reference Library of Con- 
gress was not open at night and there was not in all 
Washington a single free circulating library. According to 
statistics there were then much more than a million books 
in the semi-public libraries of Washington; and when these 
had been apportioned among the citizens after the methods 
of statisticians it appeared that the District workingman 
had fourteen times as many public books as the average 
American. And the only difficulty was that owing to 
cramping limitations he could not make any use of them. 
Viewing this ocean of more than a million books spread 


32 


tantalizingly before them the working men, the school 
children, the government clerks, the great mass of the citi- 
zens of Washington, thirsty for the knowledge that comes 
from reading, felt that they might well exclaim with the 
Ancient Mariner: “Water! Water everywhere, nor any 
drop to drink!” 

My dream of thirty years ago pictured the upbuilding 
in Washington of a modern free circulating library, tax- 
sustained on the half-and-half basis, a supplement of the 
public schools for the benefit of the thousands of school 
children, a general departmental library for the whole body 
of government clerks, a people’s free university open at 
night for the local working folk. I am delighted beyond 
expression that my dream has come true. 


In 1896 the Library was created as a supplement of the 
public schools. In 1898 it became tax-sustained on the 
half-and-half basis. In the same year the Library of 
Congress was opened at night. In 1902 the local-national 
taxpayers by an appropriation of $40,000 stocked the 
Public Library with books. In 1903 it occupied its new 
building, and was adequately housed. In 1909 it gained 
by law access, long sought, to the treasure of duplicates in 
the Library of Congress. In 1911 its first branch library 
was opened. This year the benefit of a second branch 
will be enjoyed. | 

The library books, 15,000 in 1898, had grown to 64,000 
when Dr. Bowerman became librarian in 1904, and number 
238,000 today. Book circulation, the measure of a library’s 
usefulness, has grown from 278,000 in 1904, to over a 
million today. 

Though the library maintenance appropriation, $6,720 in 
1898 and $36,280 in 1904, has grown to $140,000 today, 


OS 


the Library is insufficiently clothed and fed. It has out- 
grown its clothes; it has outgrown its strength. It must 
be better nourished; it must be more fittingly equipped. 
Provision for its maintenance and development must keep 
pace with its growth in usefulness and community service. 

The whole capital is now alive to the community useful- 
ness and value of the Library, and enthusiastic in the 
avowed purpose to promote its growth in capacity to serve 
the public. 

Will not the community in expressing this appreciative 
enthusiasm say it, not with flowers—of rhetoric, but in 
donations, in legacies, in definite and vigorous promotion 
work? Will not the Commissioners say it, not in flowers 
of speech, but with estimates? Will not our legislators say 
it with appropriations? 

But I must not be longer diverted from my duty and 
pleasure of final acknowledgment of the honor done me 
tonight. I appreciate keenly this tribute of friendship. 
I am grateful and I am proud. 


CONTRIBUTORS TO PORTRAIT FUND 


The following gave $10 each to the fund for the paint- 
ing of the portrait and the publication of the speeches 


at the presentation exercises: 


ADAMS, Byron S. 
ADAMS, Miss Mary. 
AILES, MILTON E. 
ASPINWALL, CLARENCE A. 
BAILEY, CHARLES B. 
BALDWIN, WILLIAM H. 
BALLANTYNE, R. CARTER. 
BARNARD, JOB 

BELL, ALEXANDER GRAHAM 
BELL, CHARLES J. 
BERLINER, EMILE 
BERRYMAN, CLIFFORD K. 
BLair, GIST 

BuLarir, HENRY P. 

BLAIR, WoopBURY 


BoAaRDMAN, Miss MaBeEt T. 


Bonp, S. R. 
BOWERMAN, GEORGE F., 
BRADLEY, THOMAS 
BRANDENBURG, E. C. 
Briaas, J. EDSON 
BRITTON, ALEXANDER 
BROWN, WALTER A. 
BRYAN, Henry L. 
BULKLEY, BARRY 
Bunpy, CHARLES S§8. 
Burt, ARTHUR 
BuTLER, CHARLES HENRY 
ButTLerR, W. K. 
CARPENTER, FRANK G. 
CHURCH, MELVILLE 
CHurcH W. A. H. 
CuLapPp, JOHN H. 


CLARK, ALLEN C. 
CLEPHANE, WALTER C. 
CoHEN, MYER 
CoLLaDAY, EH. F. 
CooPER, WILLIAM KNOWLES 
CorBy, CHARLES I. 
Corsy, W. S. 

GOxeIW 2 VG 
CUNNINGHAM, J. HARRY 
Davis, Harry C. 
DONALDSON, R. GOLDEN 
DOWELL, JULIAN C. | 
Epson, JOHN Joy 
Eno, WM. PHELPS 
Estes, L. WHITING 
EYNON, WILLIAM J. 
FAULKNER, CHARLES J. 
FENNING, FREDERICK E. 
FLEMING, GEORGE E. 
Fox, ALBERT F. 
GALLIHER, W. T. 
GANS, ISAAC 
GARFINKLE, JULIUS 
GascH, Mrs. Marie MANNING 
GILL, HERBERT A. 
GLOVER, C. C. 

GRAHAM, E. C. 

GRANT, THOMAS 
GREEN, JAMES M. 
GROSVENOR, GILBERT 
GUDE, WILLIAM F. 
Guy, BENJAMIN W. 
HaM, WILLIAM F. 


HAMILTON, GEORGE E. O’TooLE, Miss Mary 


Harper, R. N. OTTENBERG, LOUIS 
HarRiEs, GEORGE H. PARKER, ANDREW 
HEILPRIN, G. F. Parris, A. K. 

HENDLEY, CHARLES M. PAYNE, JOHN BARTON 
HERRMANN, J. PHILIP PENFIELD, WALTER S. 
HEURICH, CHRISTIAN PETER, ARTHUR 

Hitt, DAvip JAYNE PoMEROY, Mrs. THEODORE L. 
HopeGKins, Howarp L. POOLE, JOHN 

HoGaNn, FRANK J. PrEscoTT, SAMUEL J. 
HorPkKINS, ARCHIBALD . REESIDE, FRANK P. 
Horxins, THOMAS §. RICHARDSON, FRANK A. 
HowarkbD, BEALE R. ROBERTS, WILLIAM F. 
Hoxig, RrcHarp L. RvuDOLPH, CuNOo H. 
JOHNSTON, JOHN A. Sau, B. FRANcIS 
Jupp, GEORGE H. SAUNDERS, WILLIAM H. 
KAUFMAN, Davin J. ScHMIDT, Epwarp §. 
KAUFFMANN, RUDOLPH SCHNEIDER, T. F. 
KAUFFMANN, VICTOR SCHULTEIS, ALBERT 
KEFERSTEIN, CARL B. SHARP, JAMES 

KENYON, J. MILLER SIMPSON, JOHN CRAYKE 
Kinc, WILLIAM BRUCE SMALLWOOD, JOHN B. 
KNAPP, MARTIN A. SmitH, C. ERNEST 
Kos, J. LEO SMITH, Emmons §S. 
LAMBIE, JAMES B. SMITH, ODELL S. 
LARNER, JOHN B. STAFFORD, WENDELL P. 
LEE, BLAIR SuMMY, BENJAMIN W. 
Letts, JOHN C. SWoRMSTEDT, Mrs. LYMAN B. 
LINTON, IRWIN B. THOM, CORCORAN 
LISNER, A. THURSTON, ERNEST L. 
Lyon, G. A. TOBRINER, LEON 

MEEM, Harry G. TOPHAM, WASHINGTON 
MESSER, JAMES A. WaLcoTT, CHARLES D. 
MoorkE, CHARLES! WALKER, ERNEST G. 
MosEs, ARTHUR C. WEAVER, ROBERT D. 
Mourpuy, EH. J. WHITE, HENRY 

MutTH, GEorGE F. WILLARD, HENRY K. 
NEWBOLD, FLEMING WoLFr, ALEXANDER 
NORMENT, CLARENCE F, WoLr, SIMON 

NOYES, FRANK B. WooDWARD, DONALD 


36 


THE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND 
THEODORE W. NOYES 


A CHRONOLOGICAL OUTLINE 


These historical memoranda are incomplete and frag- 
mentary. The Library’s scrap-book in the earlier period 
before the Library came into existence is especially incom- 
plete. Certain portions of the Star files have been scanned. 
Undoubtedly, many editorial articles written by Mr. Noyes 
in support of the creation of the Library are missing. This 
chronological outline is naturally fuller for the earlier 
period, when Mr. Noyes tried to get the Library established 
and put it on its feet. The later period is covered only 
summarily, though Mr. Noyes and the Star continued their 
activity with unabated energy. 


3 Jan. 1891. 
The Star had a long news article (written by Mr. Noyes 
or by his direction) on the government libraries and point- 
ing out the large number (300,000 volumes) of popular 
books contained in them that were more suitable for a 
public library than for reference libraries. 

9 Jan. 1891. 
Star editorial stressing point of foregoing article. ‘With 
all this wealth at home are the general public starving? 
These treasures are not accessible to the working people 
in their hours of leisure.” 

Jan. 1891. 
Several undated Star news articles (probably published 
after the above) showing approval of Librarian of Con- 
gress (Dr. Spofford), Labor Commissioner Wright, of plan 
to transfer books from Library of Congress and depart- 
mental libraries for use by a public library. Interview 
with Dr. Harris, U. S. Commissioner of Education on value 
of a public library to schools and quoting experience of 
other public libraries. 


87, 


19 Jan. 1891. 
Star editorial commenting on Postmaster General Wana- 
maker’s suggestion to use part of new city post office build- 
ing to house public library. 

21 Jan. 1891. 
Star editorial on opening of Edinburgh, Scotland, Public 
Library building, given by Andrew Carnegie and saying 
that Washington has conditions similar to Edinburgh be- 
fore it had a public library. It gave as Washington’s need 
“A Carnegie, a free library act, or both.” 

23 Jan. 1891. 
Star editorial on use of Library of Congress books for a 
public library. 

5 Feb. 1891. 
First bill (H. R. 7723, 52nd Cong., Ist Sess.)—by Repre- 
sentative John J. Hemphill—‘“to establish a free public and 
departmental library and reading room;” to be located in 
new post office building and Library of Congress empowered 
to transfer duplicates and all collections of circulating 
books in departments required to be transferred. Support 
on half and half basis. (Bill drafted by Mr. Noyes or 
with his help). No report ever made on this bill. 

9 Feb. 1891. 
Star editorial on Hemphill bill. 

Later (7). 
Same bill introduced into Senate (S. 1491, 52nd Cong., 1st 
Sess.) by Senator McMillan. 

13 Jan. 1893. 


McMillan bill reported to Senate (S. Report 933) with 
amendments and debated and referred to Committee on 
Library—never to be heard from again. 
17 Nov. 1898. 
Star editorial to renew interest in public library project. 
Dec. 1898. 
B. H. Warner, President, Washington Board of Trade, 
recommends that a special Committee on Public Library be 
appointed and later appointed Mr. Noyes as chairman. 
19 Feb. 1894. 
Star editorial on library project. 
27 March 1894. 
Epoch-making Report of Committee on Public Library of 
Washington Board of Trade. Pamphlet of 12 pages written 
by Mr. Noyes. 


38 


19 April 1894. 


10 May 


Star editorial. 

1894, 

Bills like the Hemphill-MecMillan bill of previous Congress 
introduced in 53d Congress, 2d Sess. by Senator Mills 
(S. 2009) and Representative Heard (H. R. 6642). 


4 June 1894. 


Senator McMillan introduced a bill (S. 2080, 53d Cong., 
2d Sess.) providing for the establishment of public library 
in “some central or eligible place in the District’? and to be 
maintained by two-thirds of the police court fines and pen- 
alties. Text in other respects very much like the law 
finally enacted in 1896. 


6 June 1894. 


11 July 


12 July 


14 Aug. 


11 Dee. 


Star news article summarizing testimony of Mr. Noyes be- 
fore House District Committee in support of Heard bill 
(H. R. 6642) that is, for a free public and departmental 
library and supported on half and half basis. Mr. Noyes 
appeared as chairman of Washington Board of Trade 
Committee on Public Library. 

1894. 

Representative Cadmus reported out (H. Report 1223) 
Heard bill with amendments. 


1894. 
Star news article summarizing this report. 


1894. 
Star news article. 
Congressional Record, pp. 9926-35. 


1894. 

Congressional Record, pp. 167-186. 

During the long discussion of the Heard bill, occupying 
practically two entire days in the House, it was first held 
that the public library was a luxury and therefore unneces- 
sary, particularly in view of the presence of the Library 
of Congress. The opponents of the bill were willing to 
agree to its passage provided all the expenses of main- 
tenance should be borne by the District of Columbia. The 
bill was finally smothered by being referred to the Com- 
mittee on Buildings and Grounds. It was proposed to 
house the library in the new Post Office Department build- 
ing, but the opposition claimed that no District institution 
should be admitted to it. 


39 


Late in 1894 and early in 1895, 1 July 1895. 


24 Apr. 


30 Apr. 


19 Nov. 


27 Nov. 


80 Dec. 
31 Dec. 


30 Dec. 


31 Dec. 


General A. W. Greeley carried on a campaign to raise funds 
for a voluntary (not tax supported) free library, which was 
finally incorporated as the Washington City Free Library. 
At one time General Greeley reported subscriptions amount- 
ing to $10,500. Mr. Noyes, acting through the Board of 
Trade Committee on Library and the Star, pushed the 
municipal library project vigorously and secured subscrip- 
tions, all conditioned on the securing of the legislation es- 
tablishing the library on a municipal basis. 

1895. 

Star news article, Board of Trade plan and list of sub- 
scribers to funds for municipal library. 

1895. 

Star editorial supporting a municipal library. 

1895. 

Star—Washington Board of Trade Committee report (by 
Mr. Noyes) in full and editorial on same. 

1895. 

Star editorial ‘‘Working men and the library.” 

1895. 

1895. 

54th Congress, Ist Session. 

Identical bills introduced by Senator McMillan (8S. 1247) 
and by Representative Babcock (H. R. 3129) at request of 
Washington Board of Trade (Mr. Noyes). The text of the 
bill as introduced is substantially the same as the present 
act. In passage a section was eliminated that provided that 
the expenses of maintenance should be treated as among the 
current municipal expenses of the District and Commis- 
sioners are required to send in estimates. (Though elim- 
inated this is actually the case.) From this bill there 
were eliminated certain contentious features of earlier 
bills: use of part of Post Office building and the transfer 
of circulating books from departmental libraries. 

1895. 

Star news article: text of bill. 

1895. 

Star news article: Babcock bill; also editorial. 


4 Jan. 1896. 


31 Jan. 


Washington City Free Library opened at 1515 H Street N.W. 
1896. 
Star news, summarizing favorable report on McMillan bill. 


40 


26 Feb. 1896. 
Star news: Hearing before the House District Committee 
on Babcock bill. Mr. Noyes represented Board of Trade 
Committee on Public Library. 

27 Feb. 1896. 
Star editorial “Will pass the free library bill.’ 

2 March 1896. 
Congressional Record (pp. 2639-42). 
Senate debated and passed the McMillan bill, with slight 
amendments. 

3 March 1896. 
Star news article—2 columns. 

5 March 1896. 
Star news. Representative Wellington reported Senate bill 
favorably, in lieu of House bill. 

6 March 1896. 
Star editorial “Strike while the iron is hot.” 

9 March 1896. 
Congressional Record (pp. 2915-25). Bill debated in House 
and amended so as to throw all the expense of library on 
the District of Columbia and then passed. 


10 March 1896. 
Star news article. 
Editorial “The hope of a free library’—that is, no hope so 
long as it is not on half-and-half basis. 


24 March 1896. 
Star editorial: “The public library a proper municipal ex- 
pense.” 

7 Apr. 1896. 
Congressional Record (pp. 4028-40). 
Chairman Babcock, of House D. C. Committee brought back 
the bill with a recommendation that the provision putting 
all expense on the District of Columbia be eliminated. 
After long debate the House refused to eliminate this pro- 
vision and again sent the bill to conference. Speaker Reed 
appointed as conferees members favorable to principle of 
making the District of Columbia pay all the expense. 


7 Apr. 1896. 
Star news—2 columns. 

8 Apr. 1896. 
Star editorial “Amendment which virtually kills the meas- 
ure.” 


4] 


9 Apr. 1896. 
Star editorial “A Misrepresentative of Vermont’’—a criti- 
cism of Representative Powers, of Vermont, who led the 
fight in House to make the District of Columbia pay en- 
tire expense of Public Library. 
13 Apr. 1896. 
Star news: Letter from Federation of Labor criticising 
Representative Powers for calling them lobbyists because 
they had favored having the library a distinct municipal 
enterprise. 
15 Apr. 1896. 
Star editorial: “Labor denounces Mr. Powers.” 
16 Apr. 1896. 
Star reprints an editorial on library from Chicago Times- 
Herald. 
20 May 1896. 
Star editorial ‘“‘Stand by the contract’—urging conferees to 
stick to half-and-half basis of support of library. 
28 May 1896. 
Star editorial “The free library in sight.” 
29 May 1896. 
Star news (2 columns); bill finally passes both Houses, 
by the elimination of section stating the basis of support 
of the library. Star editorial “Hurrah for the free library.” 
38 June 1896. 
Bill creating the Public Library signed by President Cleve- 
land. 
24 June 1896. 
Star editorial “Laying the foundations’—that is, of the 
Public Library. 
2 July 1896. 
The Commissioners of the District of Columbia promptly 
appointed 9 trustees provided under the act as follows; 
Gardner G. Hubbard, S. W. Woodward (from the trustees 
of the Washington City Free Library), Dr. J. M. Toner, 
Alexander T. Britton, B. H. Warner, John B. Larner, James 
T. DuBois, R. R. Perry and T. W. Noyes. 
The board elected T. W. Noyes President and John B. 
Larner Secretary. 
At first meeting on motion of Mr. Hubbard the follow- 
ing resolution was adopted: 
Whereas, the Municipal Library of Washington owes 
the act of incorporation, which is its life, to the un- 


42 


27 Nov. 


wearied efforts, great tact and good judgment of Mr. 
Theodore W. Noyes, 

Therefore, Be it resolved, That we enter on the first 
page of our records and before all other acts this 
acknowledgment of our obligation to Mr. Noyes. 

1896. 

Second meeting of Library Board. Dr. A. R. Spofford ap- 
pointed trustee in place of Mr. Britton, resigned; and 
Colonel Weston Flint to succeed Dr. Toner, deceased. Rules 
and regulations drawn up and committees appointed. 


27 Dec. 1896. 


Mr. Noyes appeared before District Sub-committee, House 
Committee on Appropriations and argued for original ap- 
propriations. Not granted. (See House Hearings for 
1897-98, pp. 20-31.) 


5 Jan. 1897. 


3 March 


B. H. Warner elected vice-president of board and _ so 
continued till his death. 

The act creating the Library carried no appropriation and 
the section in the bill that finally became a law relating to 
the method of support was stricken out, in order to secure 
its passage. Efforts were made to secure an appropriation 
for maintenance. The Senate in passing the District ap- 
propriation bill for fiscal year 1897-98 included the follow- 
ing: Librarian, $2000; assistant librarian, $900; second 
assistant, $720; contingent expenses $3,100; total $6,720. 
(Public Library does not have printed hearings before Sen- 
ate Committee on Appropriations before 1900, so it is not 
certain whether Mr. Noyes appeared before Senate Com- 
mittee. ) 


1897. 

The House (Congressional Record, pp. 2942-46, 2964-65) 
on the closing day of the 54th Congress refused to include 
any appropriation unless the entire expense should be 
borne by the District. 


19 March 1897. 


Senator McMillan introduced a bill (S. 917), to provide for 
maintenance of the Public Library. No action. 


18 Dec. 1897. 


Star news and editorial. Extended review of the library 
situation with a law creating the Public Library, but with- 
out appropriations. 


43 


18 Jan. 1898. 
Mr. Noyes, Mr. Warner, and Colonel Flint appeared be- 
fore District Sub-Committee of House Committee on Ap- 
propriations asking for maintenance for Public Library. 
(See House Hearings 1899, pp. 97-108.) (Think House in- 
cluded the items.) 
Star news and editorial. 

8 March 1898. 
Star news, debate in Senate when library items passed. 

28 June 1898. 
First appropriation for fiscal year 1898-99: Librarian, 
$1600; 1st assistant, $900; 2nd assistant, $720; contingent 
expenses, $3500—total $6720. 

6 Jan. 1896, to 1 July 1898. 
Washington City Free Library opened and maintained with 
funds raised by private subscriptions. Its books, about 
13,000 volumes turned over to the municipal free public 
library. (For history of Washington City Free Library see 
Columbia Historical Society Records, vol. 16, pp. 64-95). 

14 July 1898. 
Charles J. Bell appointed to library board in place of 
Gardner G. Hubbard, deceased. 

12 Sept. 1898. 
Colonel Weston Flint appointed Librarian and later secre- 
tary and treasurer of the board. 

4 Oct. 1898. 
Rufus H. Thayer appointed trustee to succeed Weston 
Flint. 

1 Oct. 1898. 
Public Library occupied 1826 New York Avenue (Library 
not opened till Jan. 1899), till it was moved to the new 
central building in December, 1902. 

Noy. 1898. 
Mr. Noyes, as President of Board of Trade, in annual re- 
port, pp. 18-20. 

3 Dec. 1898. 
Mr. Noyes, Mr. Bell and Mr. Warner before District Sub- 
Committee, House Committee on Appropriations. (House 
Hearings, 1900, pp. 79-81.) 

12 Jan. 1899. : 
Andrew Carnegie, at request of B. H. Warner, agreed to 
give $250,000 for a central building; later increased first 


44 


to $300,000 and next to $350,000; and finally $25,000 addi- 
tional for special fittings. 
Star had a large number of news articles including letters 
from citizens and editorials on the legislation for accep- 
tance of gift and especially on the question of site. In 
the war of the sites some advocated a government reserva- 
tion on south side of Pennsylvania Avenue at 7th Street 
and others Mount Vernon Square. 

19 Jan. 1899. 
Bill (H. R. 11712) by Mr. Curtis, of Iowa, to accept Car- 
negie money and build library on Mount Vernon Square. 

20 Jan. 1899. 
Identical bill (S. 5289), by Senator McMillan. 

21 Jan. 1899. 
Senate Report 1509, on S. 5289 by Senator McMillan. 

26 Jan. 1899. 
Star news. Long debate in Senate. Bill laid aside. 

27 Jan. 1899. 
Star news. Further debate in Senate. Much opposition to 
use of Mount Vernon Square. 

3 Feb. 1899. 
House Report (No. 1899), by Mr. Mercer on H. R. 11712 
in favor of Mount Vernon Square. 

8 Feb. 1899. 
Star news. Debated in House and favorably reported by 
Committee of the Whole. 

11 Feb. 1899. 
Senator McMillan reported his bill with an amendment pro- 
viding for an appropriation of $250,000 to buy a site. Op-. 
posed in Senate and laid aside but later passed by Senate. 

28 Feb. 1899. 
House bill passed. 

3 Mar. 1899. 
Senate conferees yielded and the House bill accepting gift 
from Mr. Carnegie and providing for erection of building 
on Mount Vernon Square adopted. 

4 Mar. 1899. 
Signed by President McKinley. 
The gift of Mr. Carnegie secured, there follows in news- 
papers much about plans and building operations, increases 
in the gift, etc. 

1898-1899. 
Library record, 1st half year. Books, 15,025 volumes; cir- 


45 


culation, 57,734 volumes; expenses, $8,974 ($6,720 appro- 
priations and balance gifts); staff of 3 persons. 

Nov. 1899. 
Mr. Noyes, as President of Board of Trade, in annual re- 
port, pp. 8, 19-20. 

1899-1900. 
Library record, first full year. Circulation 122,634 volumes; 
collections, 18,518 volumes; appropriations, $7,320; total ex- 
penditures, $8,902; staff, 4. 

5 Jan. 1901. 
Mr. Noyes appeared before the District Sub-Committee, 
House Committee on Appropriations (House Hearings, Ap- 
propriation for fiscal year 1902, pp. 61-67). 

23 Jan. 1901. 
Star news: Half and half as applied to library attacked in 
House. 

24 Jan. 1901. 
Star editorial “Books, Baths and Buncombe.” Library often 
attacked in House and always defended in Star by Mr. 
Noyes. 

23 Apr. 1901. 
Star news. Cornerstone of central building laid. 

1900-1901. 
Library record, second full year. Circulation, 123,555 vol- 
umes; collections, 22,811 volumes; appropriation, $11,260; 
total expenses, $12,858; staff, 7. 

17 Oct. 1901. 
Star news. President Noyes’ annual report and estimates, 
including large increase in staff and a special book appro- 
priation of $40,000. 

8 Nov. 1901. 
Washington Post. Letter from Mr. Noyes in defence of. 
library salaries in estimates. (Mr. Noyes so keen that he 
not only writes editorials on library for his own paper but 
writes letters to other papers.) 

6 Jan. 1902. 
Deficiency estimate of $40,000 sent in by Commissioners for 
books for Public Library. 

15 Jan. 1902. 
Mr. Noyes appeared before House Sub-Committee, Urgent 
Deficiency bill. (See House Hearings on deficiency bill, 
pp. 67-76.) 


46 


14 Feb. 1902. 
$40,000 appropriation secured by Mr. Noyes in urgent de- 
ficiency bill, appropriation good till used. (Half and half 
basis. ) 

1901-1902. 
Library record: third full year. Circulation, 149,116 vol- 
umes; collection, 35,041 volumes; regular appropriations, 
$26,800; total expenditures, $31,378; staff, 13. 

14 Apr. 1902. 
Mr. Noyes appeared before the District Sub-Committee, 
House Committee on Appropriations. (See House Hear- 
ings on 1903 appropriation bill, pp. 317-319.) 

4 June 1902. 
Mr. Noyes appeared before the District Sub-Committee, 
Senate Committee on Appropriations. (See Senate Hear- 
ings on 1903 bill, pp. 197-200.) 

6 Jan. 1903. 
Mr. Noyes appeared before the District Sub-Committee, 
House Committee on Appropriations. (See House Hear- 

% ings, fiscal year 1904, pp. 126-185.) 

7 Jan. 19038. 
Central building opened with elaborate exercises, including 
speeches by President Roosevelt, Commissioner Macfarland, 
Mr. Noyes and Mr. Carnegie. (See appendix to Public 
Library report for 1902, pp. 15-22.) Mr. Carnegie offered 
to give the money necessary for all branch libraries needed, 
not specifying any amount. 

27 Jan. 1903. 
Letter from Mr. Carnegie confirming offer to furnish money 
needed for branch library buildings. 
Mr. Carnegie’s offer of money for branch library buildings 
brought a large number of applications from suburbs, many 
with offers of free sites. 

23 Feb. 1903. 
Transfer of books from the Library of Congress and other 
governmental libraries to the Public Library (contended 
for by Mr. Noyes since 1891) effected by provision in Legis- 
lative appropriation bill for 1904, providing for transfer of 
surplus books to Library of Congress and from Library of 
Congress to Public Library. 

1902-1903. 
Library record, fourth full year, one-half in the new 
building. Circulation, 214,261 volumes; collection, 53,621 


47 


volumes; regular appropriations, $29,440 ; expenditures, $30,- 
260 (not including book expenditures from the non-reverting 
special appropriation of $40,000) ; staff, 29. 

6 Noy. 19083. 
Colonel Flint offered his resignation as librarian; action 
postponed. 

Dee. 1908. 
First library station established at Neighborhood House. 

11 Dee. 1908. 
Colonel Flint’s resignation accepted to take effect upon the 
qualification of his successor. 

11 Dee. 1903. 
Gift of $1,000 from Women’s Anthropological Society. 

Jan. 1908. 
Evening Star has regularly each year turned over to library 
large numbers of its books received for review. 

§ Jan. 1904. . 

Library Trustees at a regular meeting adopted the following 
resolution on motion of B. H. Warner: 

Resolved: That the Trustees of the Washington Public 

Library, as well as the employes and patrons thereof, highly 
appreciate the time and efforts given to the institution by 
Mr. Theodore W. Noyes who has been its President since it 
was organized under the authority of Congress, which have 
resulted in such rapid growth, usefulness and attractiveness 
of the Library, and the Trustees desiring to express these 
sentiments, so that they may be of record, it is hereby 
ordered that the foregoing be entered in the minutes of this 
meeting by the Secretary, together with a unanimous vote 
of thanks of the Trustees and the expression of the best 
wishes and warm appreciation of Mr. Noyes. 

30 Jan. 1904. 
Mr. Noyes appeared before the District Sub-Committee, 
House Committee on Appropriations. (See House Hear- 
ings, fiscal year 1905, pp. 74-87.) 

31 March 1904. 
Mr. Babcock reported favorably his bill (H. R. 14048) “to 
authorize the Commissioners of the District of Columbia to 
accept donations of money and land for the establishment 
of branch libraries in the District of Columbia * * * and 
to provide for their suitable maintenance.” 

6 Apr. 1904. 
Branch library bill passed by House. 


48 


15 Apr. 1904. 
Senator Hansborough made an unfavorable report on S. 
5095 and H. R. 14048 as above—thus killing the branch 
library project as a general proposition. 

16 Apr. 1904. 
Star editorial ‘Branch libraries’—deploring the action 
taken. 

10 June 1904. 
Library Trustees elected George F. Bowerman as Librarian. 

1903-1904. 
Library work (last year of Colonel Flint’s librarianship). 
Circulation, 278,178, volumes; collections, 64,473 volumes; 
appropriation, $36,280; total expenditures, $49,397; staff, 
35; agencies for circulation, 2; fiction percentage, 84. 

1 Sept. 1904. 
George F. Bowerman began his service as Librarian. 

7 Jan. 1905. 
Evening Star began the regular weekly publication of 
library book accessions; since 1907 these lists have been 
printed in a monthly bulletin, by kindness of Star in lend- 
ing its type. 

Jan. 1905. 
Training class established. 

1904-1905. 
Library work: first year of G. F. Bowerman’s librarian- 
ship; circulation, 353,493 volumes; collection, 73,045 vol- 
umes; appropriation, $35,320; total expenditures, $40,235; 
staff, 39; agencies, 4; percentage of fiction reduced from 
84 to 72. 

1 July 1905. 
Sunday opening begun. 

Oct. 1905. 
Educational Bulletin begun. (Published 8 or 4 years.) 

20 Feb. 1906. 
Star news. Takoma Park movement for offering free site 
for branch library. 


6 Apr. 1906. 
Colonel Weston Flint, former librarian, died. 
11 May 1906. 


Star news. Takoma residents buy site for branch library. 


18 June 1906. 
Senate passed Takoma Park branch library bill. (See Pub- 
lic Library report 1906, p. 9.)—-failed of passage in House. 


49 


1905-1906. 
Library work: circulation, 433,096 volumes; collection, 84,- 
669 volumes; appropriations, $47,270; total expenses, $52,- 
996; staff, 54; agencies, 10; fiction percentage reduced to 
68. 

30 Jan. 1907. 
Hearings before House District Committee on S. 6406—the 
Takoma Park branch library bill. No action. 

March, 1907. 
Monthly Bulletin publication begun—book lists that ap- 
peared originally in Star. 

1906-1907. 
Library work: circulation, 481,963 volumes and 1,663 pic- 
tures; collection, 92,937 volumes; appropriation, $47,270; 
expenditures, $52,996; staff, 54; agencies, 10; fiction per- 
centage, 69; picture circulation begun. 


11 Nov. 1907. 
Industrial division opened. 
9 Dec. 1907. 


Takoma Park branch library bill (S. 1476) again intro- 
duced by Senator Gallinger. 

6 Jan. 1908. 
Introduced in House (H. R. 11758) by Representative 
Smith of Michigan. 


13 Jan. 1908. 
Takoma Park bill reported favorably to Senate. 
Jan. 1908. 
Library closed 10 days by case of small-pox, assistant 
librarian. 
26 Feb. 1908. 
Senate again passed Takoma Park branch library bill. 
1907-1908. 


Library work: circulation, 505,476 volumes and 17,101 pic- 
tures; collection, 103,194 volumes; appropriations, $54,640; 
expenditures, $58,460; staff, 63; agencies, 45; fiction per- 
centage, 65. 

11 Aug. 1908. 
Death of Dr. A. R. Spofford, assistant Librarian of Con- 
gress and Public Library trustee. 

14 Oct. 1908. 
Dr. Herbert Putnam, Librarian of Congress, appointed 
trustee. 


50 


Jan. 1909. 
Religious Literature Bulletin begun. (Only a few num- 
bers published.) 
6 Feb. 1909. 
Takoma Park branch library bill favorably reported to 
House by Representative Olcott. No further action. 
4 March 1909. 
Three laws providing for transfers of books to the Public 
Library, contended for by Mr. Noyes since 1891. (These 
are supplemental to provisions in 1904 Legislative appro- 
priation act.) 
1. Books in library of Government Printing Office to 
be so transferred. (Sundry Civil Appropriation Bill for 
1910.) 
2. Books and material in Library of Congress may be 
transferred to other governmental libraries, including the 
Public Library. (Legislative Appropriation Bill for 1910.) 
3. Books and articles received by copyright may be 
transferred to other governmental libraries. (Revised 
copyright act.) 
19 March 1909. 
Rufus H. Thayer resigned as library trustee (U. S. Judge 
in China.) Wendell P. Stafford appointed library trustee. 
1908-1909. 
Library work: circulation, 591,704 volumes and 27,840 pic- 
tures; collection, 114,364 volumes; appropriation, $58,630 ; 
expenditures, $65,506; staff, 65; agencies, 61; fiction per- 
centage, 63. 
3 July 1909. 
James T. DuBois resigned as trustee (Consul General to 
Singapore. ) 
John B. Sleman, Jr., appointed trustee, vice James T. 
DuBois. 
4 Jan. 1910. 
Bill introduced in House (H. R. 16327) by Mr. Smith of 
Michigan, to authorize acceptance of money and land for 
Takoma Park branch library. 
5 Jan. 1910. 
Identical bill (S. 4626) introduced by Senator Gallinger. 
18 Jan. 1910. 
Senate passed bill. 
28 March 1910. 
House bill passed with amendments. 


51 


29 March 1910. 
Senate passed House bill. 

9 Apr. 1910. 
Takoma Park branch act signed by President Taft. 

1909-1910. 
Library work: circulation, 603,061 volumes. 34,783 pictures ; 
collection, 121,077 volumes; appropriation, $61,020; ex- 
penditures, $66,583; staff, 66; agencies, 74; fiction percent- 
age, 62. 

4 Feb. 1911. 
Mr. Noyes appeared before the District Sub-Committee, 
Senate Committee on Appropriations for 1912 appropria- 
tion (see Senate Hearings, 1912, pp. 37-39.) 

1910-1911. 
Library work: circulation, 601,717 volumes; 41,808 pictures ; 
collection, 182,837; appropriation, $61,140; expenditures, 
$65,834; staff, 66; agencies, 98; fiction percentage, 60. 

16 Nov. 1911. 
Takoma Park branch library building opened. 

12 Dec. 1911. 
Mr. Noyes appeared before District Sub-Committee, House 
Committee on Appropriations (see House Hearings, fiscal 
year 1913, pp. 78-85.) 

Jan. 1912. 
Dr. William M. Davidson, first Superintendent of Public 
Schools to be appointed to library board. 

11 Jan. 1912. 
Bill introduced (S. 4315) by Senator Gallinger to accept 
land for branch library in Congress Heights. No action. 

12 Jan. 1912. 
Library Trustees by resolution recommended to Board of 
Education that they join in a plan for the establishment of 
branches of the Public Library in public school buildings. 

17 Feb. 1912. 
Mr. Noyes appeared before the District Sub-Committee, 
Senate Committee on Appropriations for 1913 appropria- 
tions (see Senate Hearings, 1913, pp. 119-124). 

8 March 1912. 
Trustees adopted resolutions reaffirming their conviction 
that branch libraries are needed and should be built with 
Carnegie money; that no further branches should be sought 
until central library is better supported; and no more 
Carnegie branches should be accepted till Congress supports 


32 


Takoma Park branch better; that 10% of cost of building 
should be a minimum and not a maximum. 

24 June 1912. 
Controller of Treasury decided that the Library Trustees, 
with the approval of the District Commissioners, have a 
right to expend collections from fines and penalties and 
gifts for the general purposes of the maintenance of the 
library. 

1911-1912. 
Library work: circulation, 656,527 volumes and 54,568 pic- 
tures; collections, 144,476 volumes; appropriations, $67,- 
140; expenditures, $73,394; staff, 67; fiction percentage, 
58. 

8 Nov. 1912. 
James T. DuBois makes permanent the Henry Pastor 
Memorial Fund—$1,000 bond of Washington Railway & 
Electric Company, 4%. 

4 Jan. 1913. 
Mr. Noyes appeared before District Sub-Committee, House 
Committee on Appropriations. (See House Hearings, fiscal 
year 1914, pp. 72-81.) 

1912-1918. 
Library work: circulation, 686,269 volumes and 72,450 pic- 
tures; collections, 156,263; appropriations, $63,000; expen- 
ditures, $68,307 ; staff, 69; agencies, 161; fiction percentage, 
58. 

18 Oct. 1913. 
Social Service Bulletin first issued. Publication continued 
for several years. 

26 Nov. 1918. 
Mr. Noyes appeared before District Sub-Committee, House 
Committee on Appropriations. (See House Hearings, fiscal 
year 1915, pp. 142-178.) 

29 Dee. 1913. 
Board of Education adopted the resolution of the Library 
Trustees (12 Jan. 1912) agreeing to the plan for estab- 
lishing branch libraries in public school buildings. 

Dec. 1913. 
Dr. Davidson resigned from Library Trustees (called to 
Pittsburgh. ) 

26 Jan. 1914. 
Mr. Noyes appeared before District Sub-Committee, Senate 


53 


Committee on Appropriations (see Senate Hearings, fiscal 
year 1915, pp. 90-93.) 

Feb. 1914. 
Ernest L. Thurston, Superintendent of Schools, appointed 
library trustee, vice Dr. Davidson. 

25-29 May. 1914. 
American Library Association met in Washington; exhi- 
bition of library labor saving devices in central library. 

1913-1914. 
Library work: circulation, 713,634 and 84,924 pictures; col- 
lections, 168,167 volumes; appropriations, $63,880; expen- 
ditures, $69,370; staff, 70; agencies, 186; fiction percentage, 
56. 

14 May 1915. 
Daniel A. Edwards appointed library trustee. 

1914-1915. 
Library work: circulation, 802,998 volumes and 93,745 pic- 
tures; collections, 179,183 volumes; appropriations, $73,- 
240; expenditures, $79,166; staff, 76; agencies, 166; fiction 
percentage, 55. 

13 Jan. 1916. 
Mr. Noyes appeared before District Sub-Committee, House 
Committee on Appropriations (see House Hearings, fiscal 
year 1917, pp. 214-241). 

1 Feb. 1916. 
Mr. Noyes and Librarian appeared before House D. C. 
Committee opposing D. C. Commissioners’ bill giving them 
appointment and removal of all Public Library employees. 
Bill tabled. (See printed hearings.) 

16 May 1916. 
B. H. Warner died. Resolutions mention the facts that as 
President of Washington Board of Trade he appointed the 
first library committee; that he helped to secure the pass- 
age of the act creating the Library; that he was a member 
of the first board of trustees and served nearly 20 years 
as vice-president and chairman of Committee on Building, 
and that he secured from Mr. Carnegie the money for the 
erection of the central library building. 

1915-1916. 
Library work: circulation, 880,043 volumes and 110,930 pic- 
tures; collections, 185,136; appropriations, $72,100; expen- 

ditures, $77,336; staff, 76; agencies, 181; fiction percentage, 

54. 


54 


7 July 1916. 
Benjamin W. Guy appointed library trustee. 

9 Oct. 1916. 
Wendell P. Stafford elected vice-president of library board. 

26 Jan. 1917. 
Mr. Noyes appeared before D. C. Sub-Committee of Senate 
Committee on Appropriations (see Hearings, fiscal year 
1918, pp. 56-64.) 

8 June 1917. 
Librarian submitted to District Commissioners (with ap- 
proval of Library Trustees) a comprehensive report on 
branch libraries with special reference to branches in 
school buildings (see library report 1916-17, pp. 9-24). 

1916-1917. 
Library work: circulation, 888,053 volumes and 114,610 pic- 
tures; collection, 196,418 volumes; appropriations, $80,490; 
expenditures, $86,548; staff, 82; agencies, 176; fiction per- 
centage, 53. 

1 Aug. 1917. 
S. W. Woodward died. 

Fall of 1917. 
American Library Association, Library War Service Com- 
mittee occupied lecture room for several months as offices 
to conduct money-raising campaign. 

Oct. 1917. 
Library estimates for fiscal year 1918-19 contained a pro- 
vision designed to secure authority for a Carnegie branch 
library in Southeast Washington. (Thrown out by House 
Committee on Appropriations as new legislation.) 

7 Dec. 1917. 
E. L. Thurston appointed trustee, vice S. W. Woodward. 

21 March 1918. 
Joint meeting of representatives of Library and School 
Boards adopted a program of rules governing the conduct 
of branch libraries in school buildings. 

22 May 1918. 
Mr. Noyes appeared before D. C. Sub-Committee, Senate 
Committee on Appropriations (see Senate Hearings, fiscal 
year 1919, pp. 165-186.) 

1917-1918. 
Library work: circulation, 865,360 volumes and 72,592 pic- 
tures; collection, 206,994 volumes; appropriation, $95,934 ;- 
expenditures, $101,571; staff, 95; agencies, 178; fiction per- 
centage, 56. 


55 


Oct. 5 to Nov. 3 1918. 
Library closed one month on account of influenza epidemic. 
(This caused a decrease in circulation for that year.) 

1918-1919. 
Library work: circulation, 765,780 volumes and 47,233 pic- 
tures; collection, 216,270 volumes; appropriations, $106,429 ; 
expenditures, $114,203; staff, 96; agencies, 1381; fiction per- 
centage, 57. 

4 Jan. 1919. . 
Mr. Noyes, written statement to District Sub-Committee, 
Senate Committee on Appropriations (see Senate Hearings, 
fiscal year 1920, pp. 193-199.) 

2 Oct. 1919. 
Southeastern branch library bill (H. R. 9668) introduced 
by Mr. Mapes. No action. 

10 Oct. 1919. 


Trustees authorized the Librarian to close the library on 


Wednesdays at 3 P.M. because of insufficient force. 

1 Dee. 1919. 
Carnegie Corporation agreed to give not less than $50,000 
to construct Southeastern branch library building. 

10 Mar. 1920. 
Mr. Noyes appeared before District Sub-Committee, House 
Committee on Appropriations (see House hearing, fiscal 
year 1921, pp. 363-394.) 

12 Apr. 1920. 
Mr. Noyes appeared before District Sub-Committee, Senate 
Committee on Appropriations (see Senate Hearings, fiscal 
year 1921, pp. 168-174.) 

1919-1920. 
Library work: circulation, 898,513 volumes and 66,849 pic- 
tures; collection, 223,516 volumes; appropriation (including 
bonus), $128,464; expenditures, $137,834; staff, 93; agencies, 
154; fiction percentage, 57. 
Library report prepared in handbook form and later hand- 
book part issued separately. 

10 Sept. 1920. 
Mrs. Lyman B. Swormstedt and Mrs. Marie Manning Gasch 
appointed to library board. 

15 Jan. 1921. 
Southeastern branch library bill introduced in House (H. R. 
15749) by Mr. Mapes. No action. 


56 


5 May 1921. 
Librarian appeared before Sub-Committee of Senate District 
Committee:at hearings on building program of publie schools 
of the District of Columbia. (See printed hearings, pp. 
73-81.) 

16 June 1921. 
Southeastern branch library site ($10,000) and authority to 
accept not less than $50,000 from Carnegie Corporation, in- 
cluded in second deficiency appropriation bill 

1920-1921 (fiscal year). 
Library work: circulation, 985,309 volumes and 72,100 pic- 
tures; collection, 232,921 volumes; appropriations (includ- 
ing bonus), $140,385; expenditures, $156,919; staff, 104; 
agencies, 185; fiction percentage, 59. 

December 1921. 
Board of Education adopted report on revised plan for con- 
duct of branch libraries in schools. 

1921 (calendar year). 
Library work: circulation, 1,008,614 volumes and 72,765 
pictures; collection, 237,738 volumes; appropriations (in- 
cluding bonus and $10,000 for branch library site), $150,- 
756.62; expenditures, $165,807.69 (including $8,360.30 for 
branch library site) ; staff, 104 (83 library service, 16 janitor 
service; 5 book bindery) ; agencies, 136; fiction percentage, 
57. 

January 1922. 
Board of Library Trustees adopted school branch library 
plan. 

9 Feb. 1922. 
Carnegie Corporation allotted $67,000 for Southeastern 
branch library building. 

16 Feb. 1922, 11 A.M. 
President Noyes and Librarian appeared before District 
Sub-Committee, Senate Committee on Appropriations. (See 
Senate Hearings, pp. 282-287.) 

16 Feb. 1922, 8 P.M. 
Portrait in oil of Mr. Noyes (by R. S. Meryman) presented 
to Library Trustees, by a committee of citizens, in recogni- 
tion of his pubiic service as President of the Library Trustees 


since 1896. 


57 


BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES 
16 February 1922 


CHARLES J. BELL, term expires 1922. 

THEODORE W. Noyes, term expires 1922. 

WENDELL P. STAFFORD, term expires 1922. 
BENJAMIN W. Guy, term expires 1924. 

JOHN B. LARNER, term expires 1924. 

ERNEST L. THURSTON, term expires 1924. 

DANIEL A. Epwarps, term expires 1926. 

Mrs. Marte MANNING GASCH, term expires 1926. 
Mrs. LyMAN B. SwORMSTEDT, term expires 1926. 


OFFICERS OF THE BOARD 


THEODORE W. NOYES, President. 

WENDELL P. STAFFORD, Vice-President. 

JOHN B. LARNER, Secretary. 

GEORGE F. BOWERMAN, Librarian, Treasurer and Assistant 
Secretary. 


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